Fusion Message Board

In this space, visitors are invited to post any comments, questions, or skeptical observations about Philo T. Farnsworth's contributions to the field of Nuclear Fusion research.

Subject: Re: Hybird nuclear raector
Date: Sep 26, 9:26 pm
Poster: Ben Franchuk

On Sep 26, 9:26 pm, Ben Franchuk wrote:

>I would like to entertain your comments on my armchair engineering of a hybird reactor.
>Specifically what I have in mind is the use of a farnsworth fusor to produce sufficient neutron output to radiate an enriched Uranium blanket.
>
>I estimate that with an out put in the 10>15 neutron per second range if moderated to thermal velocities resulting in efficient burning of an enriched uranium blanket could in theory product approx. 20Kw of power ( I am estimating approx 200Mev per reaction for 10>15 reactions yielding 200>21 ev. or 20Kw) Are my numbers correct?
>
>Such a power plant could be quite small to power a car ar aircraft and of course inherently safe from problems of melt down. Of course there would still be radioactive waste to deal with but ther always is.
>
>My thinking is that increased efficiency in development of the farnsworth fusor would then become economical at that point which would generate the revenue needed to allow this technology to progress.
>
>All comments and constructive criticism welcome.

Never work ... the goverment has too much money
tied up in plutonium.:)

I think the better idea is to use a short lived
synthetic radioative isotope for use in say
a nuclear rocket for deep space.The only place on earth nuclear materal is banned is space.
By creating the fuel from a non radioactive
source you get around this problem.
Since a fusor/nuclear fuel reactor does not
make a good atomic bomb, this idea was never
really studied by anybody in depth.